Trailer for Transporting Living Fowl

ABSTRACT

A trailer for transporting living fowl is provided and includes an enclosure defined by a top, a front wall, a rear wall, a floor, and first and second side walls. The side walls are made of fabric so that the living fowl may be loaded and unloaded from the sides of the trailer. A main air supply duct extends a substantial portion of the length of the enclosure and receives conditioned air from an apparatus for generating conditioned air. A plurality of spaced apart vertical side ducts are connected to the main air supply duct and provide support for the top of the enclosure. A plurality of spaced apart floor ducts are connected to the vertical side ducts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to trailers for transporting living fowl. Moreparticularly, it relates to trailers which provide conditioned air tothe interior of the trailer during the transport of living fowl. One ofthe problems in transporting large numbers of living fowl, such aschickens, is the need to remove excess heat from their immediateenvironment, particularly during the summer months to ensure that alarge number of the fowl will survive the transport. Another problem isthe need to provide heat in their immediate environment during thewinter months, also to ensure that a large number of the fowl willsurvive the transport.

For many years, fowl was transported in an open trailer. This techniquepermits a great deal of air circulation for cooling the fowl duringtransport. However, it is no longer widely accepted because of thedirect exposure of fowl to the elements and because of damage to thefowl caused by high velocity air flow. Recently, fowl have beentransported in closed trailers. These closed trailers have included airhandling ducts and fans for circulating air. The air ducts may beconnected to various sources of forced air, such as air conditioners,fans, and, in some cases, forced air heaters for winter transport. Airis often circulated from open grates in a false bottom floor of thetrailer which run the length of the trailer. Even with moresophisticated environmental control systems, hot spots have developedwhere circulation is poor. It has been found that many of the fowl inthe areas having hot spots do not survive a long transport.

A major innovation in the transport of living fowl is described in U.S.Pat. No. 4,481,870 issued to G. D. Smith. The G. D. Smith patent shows aduct ventilation system running lengthwise in the floor of the trailerwhich provides forced air between elongated parallel rows of boxes offowl. Another major innovation in the transport of living fowl isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,544 issued to Rocky L. Smith. The RockySmith patent describes an air conditioned trailer for transportingliving fowl, including elongated air handling ducts located in the spacebetween the floor and the bottom of the trailer. Openings are providedat the top of the ducts so that air can pass from the duct to the insideof the trailer above the floor. The ducts are tapered so that thevelocity of conditioned air from the holes is substantially equalizedfor the length of the ducts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided atrailer for transporting living fowl having at least a first enclosure.The first enclosure is defined by a top, a front wall, a rear wall, afloor and a first side wall and a second side wall. At least the firstside wall is movable so that the living fowl may be loaded and unloadedfrom a side of the trailer. An apparatus for generating conditioned airto be supplied to the first enclosure is provided. A main air supplyduct receives conditioned air from the apparatus for generatingconditioned air and extends a substantial portion of the length of thefirst enclosure. A plurality of spaced apart floor ducts, adjacent tothe floor, extend for a substantial portion of the width of the firstenclosure. The floor ducts are connected to the main air supply duct.The floor ducts have a plurality of air holes therein so thatconditioned air will flow into the first enclosure.

In accordance with another form of this invention, there is provided atrailer for transporting living fowl including at least a firstenclosure. The first enclosure is defined by a top, a front wall, a rearwall, a floor, a first side wall and a second side wall. At least thefirst side wall is movable so that the living fowl may be loaded andunloaded from a side of the trailer. An apparatus for generatingconditioned air to be supplied to the first enclosure is provided. Atleast one main air supply duct runs along the top of the first enclosureand receives conditioned air from the apparatus for generatingconditioned air. The main air supply duct extends a substantial portionof the length of the first enclosure. A plurality of spaced apart sideducts are located adjacent to the first and second side walls of thefirst enclosure and extend a substantial portion of the height of thefirst enclosure. The side ducts are connected to the main air supplyduct. A plurality of holes are located in the side ducts so thatconditioned air will flow into the first enclosure. The first and secondside walls are made of fabric. The side ducts provide support for thetop of the first enclosure.

In accordance with yet another form of this invention, there is provideda trailer for transporting live fowl, including at least one enclosuredefined by a top, floor, front wall, rear wall, a first side wall and asecond side wall. A substantial portion of the first side wall beingmade of fabric which does not provide substantial support for the top.Preferably, the fabric is insulated. A plurality of vertical air ductsadjacent to the fabric. The vertical air ducts extending from the floorto the top and having holes therein. The vertical air ducts providingsupport for the top and forming channels for conveying air to the insideof the enclosure.

In accordance with another form of this invention, there is provided atrailer for transporting a plurality of modules containing living fowl.The trailer includes at least one enclosure having a floor and at leastone side wall. At least one elongated floor duct is provided forconveying air to the inside of the enclosure. The floor duct has firstand second upwardly extending walls. The walls slope inwardly from thefloor of the enclosure so that the cross section of the floor duct hassomewhat of an inverted “V” shape. The floor duct is adapted to assistin guiding the modules into place while the trailer is being loaded andto assist in stabilizing the modules during transport.

In yet another form of this invention, there is provided a method fortransporting cages containing living fowl in an air conditioned trailerhaving at least one movable side wall. A plurality of stacked cages isprovided, forming modules. The side wall is opened. The modules areloaded into the trailer at the opened side wall. Rows of modules areformed in the trailer. The side wall is closed. Conditioned air isapplied from the floor and sides of the trailer towards the rows ofmodules. Conditioned air from the rear of the trailer is applied towardsthe rows of modules and towards the front of the trailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is set forth inthe appended claims. The invention itself, however, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof may be better understood inreference to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the trailer ofthe subject invention with a side wall having been removed forillustrative purposes and with the trailer loaded with stacked cages offowl.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with aside wall, in the form of fabric curtains, being partially opened.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with therear wall removed and with some of the elements having been removed forillustrative purposes.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the curtain system which forms theside walls of the trailer of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the curtainsfully closed and with the side ducts and main air supply duct shown inphantom.

FIG. 5 is another rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 withthe rear wall intact showing the rear ducts and fans in phantom.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the fowl cages support bracket ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a sectional of the floor ducts shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided trailer 10for transporting living fowl. Trailer 10 includes first enclosure 12 andpreferably, a second enclosure 14. Enclosure 12 is adapted to receive aplurality of modules 15 in the form of stacks of cages 16 containingliving fowl. Modules 15 have bases 18 and 20, each having a slot 21 toenable the modules to be easily loaded and unloaded by a forklift.Preferably, each module 15 includes six stacked cages 16. The termsmodules and stacked cages are used herein interchangeably. The modules15 are secured in place inside the first enclosure by spaced apartbrackets 22 which are welded to the floor 26 of first enclosure 12 andby the upwardly extending floor ducts 56, 58 and 60 referred to below.Brackets 22 and the floor ducts are particularly helpful in stabilizingthe modules when the trailer is moving. As better seen in reference toFIGS. 6, 7 and 8, brackets 22 and floor ducts 56, 58 and 60 are somewhatof an inverted “V” shape with the sides 24 of brackets 22 and the sides65 and 67 of the floor ducts sloped downwardly and outwardly at an angleso as to guide the stacked cages 16 into place as the modules 15 areloaded into the first enclosure. The first enclosure 12 is furtherdefined by top 28, rear wall 30, front wall 32 which divides the firstenclosure 12 and the second enclosure 14, and side walls 34 and 36 shownin FIG. 3. Top 28 includes ceiling 29, which is on the inside of thefirst enclosure 12, and roof 31, which is on the outside of the firstenclosure. Each side wall is in the form of a pair of movable curtains38 and 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. These movable curtains are preferablymade of an insulated fabric. The side walls are preferably in the formof accordion-like structures so that the side walls are readily openedand closed. The ability to open the side walls enables the multi-stacksof cages containing the fowl to be readily loaded and unloaded using afork lift at the side of the trailer. Thus, there is no need to drive afork lift into the inside of the trailer to load and unload the trailer.Loading and unloading the cages of fowl from the side of the trailerprovides for a much more efficient loading and unloading operation. Inaddition, damage to the trailer during loading and unloading is greatlyreduced. However, as will be discussed below, the insulated fabriccurtain side walls do not provide substantial support for the roof 28 ofthe first enclosure.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, second enclosure 14 housesapparatus 42 for generating conditioned air to provide conditioned airto the inside of the first enclosure 12. Apparatus 42 preferablyincludes an air conditioning unit and a heating unit.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the side walls 44 of second enclosure 14 arepreferably solid. As shown in FIG. 1, a high velocity fan 46 is locatedin the second enclosure 14 near the top thereof and draws conditionedair from apparatus 42. First enclosure 12 includes main air supply duct48 which preferably runs along the top 28 of the first enclosure and ispreferably in the form of a duct extending across the entire top of thefirst enclosure as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. In the preferredembodiment, the main air supply duct 48 is the entire space betweenceiling 29 and roof 31. The high velocity blower 46 supplies conditionedair to main air supply duct 48 along with pressure fans 47. Preferablythe main air supply duct 48 includes a plurality of holes 51 which openinto the inside of the first enclosure 12 providing air flow from thetop 28 of the first enclosure 12 to the inside of the first enclosure.

A plurality of spaced apart vertical side air ducts 50, 52 and 54 extendat least along one side of the first enclosure 12, such as side wall 34.Preferably, the vertical air ducts are adjacent to both side walls 34and 36. The tops of the vertical air ducts are connected to main airsupply duct 48 so that conditioned air will flow into the vertical airducts. Since the fabric curtain side walls 34 and 36 do not providesubstantial support for the top 28, vertical air ducts 50, 52 and 54 aremade of robust rigid material, such as quarter inch aluminum tubing, toalso serve as posts for providing support for the top 28 of firstenclosure 12. Each vertical duct includes a plurality of holes 56 whichpoint towards the inside of first enclosure 12 so that conditioned airflows into the inside of first enclosure 12. Preferably, vertical duct52 is larger and stronger than vertical ducts 50 and 54 so as to providemore support for the top 28 of the first enclosure 12 near the midpointthereof. Also preferably, there are three additional correspondingvertical ducts on the opposite side of the first enclosure which providean additional supply of air into the interior of the first enclosure andfurther provide additional support for the top 28 of the firstenclosure. The vertical air ducts extend for a substantial portion ofthe height of the first enclosure.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the vertical ducts are connected to spacedapart floor ducts 56, 58 and 60 which extend along the floor 26 for asubstantial portion of the width of the first enclosure. Preferably, thefloor ducts have a cross section in the shape of an equilateral triangleas shown in FIG. 9. Spacing between adjacent floor ducts is sufficientso that two rows of stacked boxes 16 may be received there between. Thefloor ducts 56, 58 and 60 each include a plurality of holes 62 and 63 onboth upwardly extending faces 65 and 67 of the floor ducts so that airmay flow upwardly between adjacent pairs of fowl containing cages 16.The combination of two vertical side ducts connected to a floor ductform a “V” shaped duct system. Thus, conditioned air flows from main airsupply duct 48 into vertical ducts 50, 52 and 54 and further into floorducts 56, 58 and 60 with conditioned air being forced into the interiorof the first enclosure 12 through the holes in all of the ducts. Thus,conditioned air completely surrounds the stacks of fowl containing boxeswhich are received within the first enclosure. These inverted “V” shapedfloor ducts perform multiple functions of providing conditioned air,guiding the modules 15 into place on the floor 26, and stabilizing themodules.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, there are a pair of vertical rear ducts64 and 66 along the rear 30 of first container 12. The vertical rearducts 64 and 66 are connected to main air supply duct 48. Duct 64includes fans 68 and 70 mounted in openings in duct 64 for forcingconditioned air from the rear of the first enclosure towards the front.Likewise, duct 66 includes fans 72 and 74 mounted in openings in duct 66also for forcing conditioned air from the rear of the first enclosuretowards the front. Fan 81 is mounted on a bracket (not shown) attachedto the inside of rear wall 30 for moving air toward the front of firstenclosure 12. Also, fans 76 and 78 are mounted on brackets 79 and extendout from vertical side duct 52 which forces conditioned air from themiddle of the first enclosure 12 towards the front. The front wall 32 ofthe first container separates the first container from the secondcontainer and includes return air opening 80 which is covered by afilter for filtering airborne debris, such as feathers and the like.

By utilizing Applicant's invention which surrounds the stacks of cagescontaining fowl with moving conditioned air, the chances of the survivalof the fowl after transport is greatly enhanced.

While the invention has been described in terms of the above embodiment,those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can bepracticed with modification within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A trailer for transporting living fowl comprising: at least a firstenclosure; the first enclosure defined by a top, a front wall, a rearwall, a floor, a first side wall and a second side wall; at least thefirst side being movable wherein the living fowl may be loaded andunloaded from a side of the trailer; an apparatus for generatingconditioned air to be supplied to the first enclosure; a main air supplyduct located in the first enclosure and receiving conditioned air fromthe apparatus for generating conditioned air; the main air supply ductextending a substantial portion of the length of the first enclosure; aplurality of spaced apart floor ducts adjacent to the floor andextending for a substantial portion of the width of the first enclosure;the floor ducts connected to the main air supply duct; the floor ductshaving a plurality of air holes therein so that conditioned air willflow into the first enclosure.
 2. A trailer as set forth in claim 1wherein the first enclosure is adapted to receive a plurality of cagescontaining living fowl; the cages adapted to be stacked and arranged ina plurality of rows; at least one stack of cages adapted to be adjacentto at least one of the floor ducts.
 3. A trailer as set forth in claim1, further including a plurality of vertical side ducts adjacent to atleast one side of the first enclosure and extending for a substantialportion of the height of the first enclosure; the vertical side ductsconnected to the main air supply duct and to the floor ducts.
 4. Atrailer as set forth in claim 3, further including a plurality of holesin the vertical side ducts so that conditioned air will flow into thefirst enclosure.
 5. A trailer as set forth in claim 3 wherein the mainair supply duct runs along the top of the first enclosure; the verticalside ducts connecting the main air supply duct to the floor ducts.
 6. Atrailer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top of the first enclosureincludes a roof and a ceiling; the ceiling being on the inside of thefirst enclosure; the main air supply duct formed by a space between theroof and the ceiling.
 7. A trailer as set forth in claim 1, furtherincluding a second enclosure; the apparatus for generating conditionedair received in the second enclosure.
 8. A trailer as set forth in claim2, further including a mechanism attached to the floor of the firstenclosure for securing the rows of stacked cages in place while thetrailer is moving.
 9. A trailer as set forth in claim 8 wherein themechanism for securing includes a plurality of spaced apart stanchionsfor contacting a portion of a stacked cage.
 10. A trailer as set forthin claim 9 wherein the stanchions are elongated and have inverted “V”cross sections so as to serve as guides to assist in the loading of thestacked cages into the first enclosure.
 11. A trailer as set forth inclaim 3 wherein the first and second side walls are a fabric; thevertical side ducts being adjacent to the first and second side walls;the vertical side ducts providing support for the top of the firstenclosure.
 12. A trailer as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rear wallincludes at least one rear duct; the rear duct connected to the firstmain supply air duct; the rear duct having at least one opening thereinfacing toward the inside of the first enclosure; a first fan located inthe opening of the rear duct for directing conditioned air into theinside of the first enclosure.
 13. A trailer as set forth in claim 12,further including at least an additional fan located in the firstenclosure between the rear wall and the second enclosure for directingconditioned air towards the second enclosure.
 14. A trailer as set forthin claim 13 wherein the additional fan is attached to one of thevertical side ducts.
 15. A trailer as set forth in claim 1 wherein thefloor ducts have cross sections somewhat in the shape of an equilateraltriangle having two sides projecting upwardly; each of the two sideshaving holes therein.
 16. A trailer for transporting living fowlcomprising: at least a first enclosure; the first enclosure defined by atop, a front wall, a rear wall, a floor, a first side wall and a secondside wall; at least the first side wall being movable wherein the livingfowl may be loaded and unloaded from a side of the trailer; an apparatusfor generating conditioned air; at least one main air supply ductlocated in the first enclosure and receiving conditioned air from theapparatus for generating conditioned air; the main air supply ductextending along the top of the first enclosure for a substantial portionof the length of the first enclosure; a plurality of spaced apartvertical side ducts adjacent to the first and second sides of the firstenclosure and extending for a substantial portion of the height of thefirst enclosure; the vertical side ducts connected to the main airsupply duct; a plurality of holes in the side ducts so that conditionedair will flow into the first enclosure; the first and second side wallsbeing a fabric; the side ducts providing support for the top of thefirst enclosure.
 17. A trailer as set forth in claim 16 wherein thefirst enclosure is adapted to receive a plurality of cages holding fowl;the cages adapted to be stacked and arranged in a plurality of rows; atleast one stack of cages adapted to be adjacent to at least one of thevertical side ducts.
 18. A trailer as set forth in claim 16, furtherincluding a plurality of floor ducts extending for a substantial portionof the width of the first enclosure; the floor ducts connected to thevertical side ducts; the floor ducts having a plurality of holes thereinso that conditioned air will flow into the first enclosure.
 19. Atrailer as set forth in claim 17, further including a mechanism attachedto the floor of the first enclosure for securing the rows of stackedcages in place while the trailer is moving.
 20. A trailer as set forthin claim 19 wherein the mechanism for securing includes a plurality ofspaced apart stanchions for contacting a portion of a stacked cage. 21.A trailer as set forth in claim 20 wherein the stanchions are elongatedand have inverted “V” cross sections so as to serve as guides to assistin the loading of the stacked cages into the first enclosure.
 22. Atrailer as set forth in claim 16 wherein the rear wall includes at leastone rear duct; the rear duct connected to the main air supply duct; therear duct having at least one opening therein facing towards the insideof the first enclosure; a first fan located in the opening of the rearduct for directing conditioned air to the inside of the first enclosure.23. A trailer as set forth in claim 22, further including at least oneadditional fan located in the first enclosure between the rear wall andthe second enclosure for directing conditioned air towards the secondenclosure.
 24. A trailer as set forth in claim 23 wherein the additionalfan is attached to one of the vertical side ducts.
 25. A trailer as setforth in claim 16, further including a plurality of holes in the mainair supply duct whereby conditioned air flows into the first enclosure.26. A trailer as set forth in claim 18 wherein the plurality of floorducts are somewhat of an inverted “V” shape.
 27. A trailer fortransporting living fowl comprising: at least one enclosure defined by atop, a floor, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; asubstantial portion of the first side wall being made of fabric whichdoes not provide substantial support for the top; a plurality ofvertical air ducts adjacent to the fabric; the vertical air ductsextending from the floor to the top; the vertical air ducts providingsupport for the top and forming channels for conveying air; the verticalair ducts having holes therein whereby air flows from the vertical airducts into the enclosure.
 28. A trailer as set forth in claim 27,further including a plurality of floor ducts connected to correspondingvertical side ducts forming a “V” shaped duct system; the floor ductshaving a plurality of holes therein wherein air flows from the floorducts and the side ducts towards the center of the “V” shaped ductsystem.
 29. A trailer for transporting a plurality of modules containingliving fowl comprising: at least one enclosure including a floor and atleast one side wall; at least one elongated floor duct for conveying airto the inside of the enclosure; the floor duct having first and secondupwardly extending walls; the walls sloping inwardly from the floor ofthe enclosure, wherein the cross section of the floor duct has somewhatof an inverted “V” shape; the floor duct adapted to assist in guidingthe modules into place while the trailer is being loaded and to assistin stabilizing the module during transport.
 30. A trailer as set forthin claim 29, further including at least one elongated stanchion attachedto the floor and located a predetermined distance from the floor duct;the module adapted to be received on the floor between the floor ductand the stanchion; the cross section of the stanchion has somewhat of aninverted “V” shape; the stanchion adapted to assist in guiding themodule into place while the trailer is being loaded and to assist instabilizing the module during transport.
 31. A trailer as set forth inclaim 29 wherein the first and second upwardly extending walls of thefloor duct each have a plurality of holes therein so that air may flowfrom the floor duct.
 32. A method for transporting cages containingliving fowl in an air conditioned trailer having at least one movableside wall comprising: providing a plurality of stacked cages formingmodules; opening the side wall; loading the modules into the trailer atthe opened side wall; forming rows of modules in the trailer; closingthe side walls; applying conditioned air from the floor and sides of thetrailer towards the rows of modules; applying conditioned air from therear of the trailer towards the rows of modules and towards the front ofthe trailer.